By Michael/Cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 03:29 pm:

I recently heard the song Ghostbusters and was wondering what Ray Parker Jr. is doing these days. He was bigger than sliced bread at one point and then seems to have disappeared of the radar scope. I was told that the I Want a New Drug/Ghostbusters controversy hurt his career but there are so many writers who have survived this type of thing that it wouldn't seem to be the case.

By STUBASS (152.163.188.68) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 10:46 pm:

HEY MICHAEL: THIS TOPIC COMES UP FROM TIME TO TIME!!!...RAY PARKER HAS BEEN SPOTTED AROUND LOS ANGELES...MY BROTHER AND A COUPLE OF FRIENDS HAVE SEEN HIM OUT IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY AND WESTLAKE AREA!!!...REPORTEDLY...AFTER SLOWING HIS CAREER DOWN TO CONCENTRATE ON FAMILY MATTERS...HE SAYS HE'S GOING BACK INTO THE STUDIO AND WE COULD HEAR SOMETHING FAIRLY SOON FROM HIM!!!...SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT HAVE MORE SPECIFIC INFO!!!...STU

By Keith Rylatt (217.137.88.19) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 02:14 am:

Hi Michael In '79 I met Ray when he toured the UK with Raydio. He is still in the music business and quite approachable, just put his name into a search engine for contact details. Did you know that Mike Hanks' son, Arnell was also in Raydio and is currently very active on the Detroit recording and promotion scene? Keith

By JSmith (212.39.231.20) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 07:05 am:

And we should all remember that Jack told us RAY was writing the intro for his book.

By Michael/Cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 11:45 am:

Thanks everyone for the info. He wrote and produced some great music, the kind we need now in the industry. Music that is melodic, fun and says something. I am gettin real tired of what I am hearing on the radio these days.

By Reese (12.15.169.254) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 12:02 pm:

I think Ray was part of the rhythm section on the recent Motown Xmas special.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 01:48 pm:

I'll take Raydio's "Jack & Jill," "You Can't Change That" & "A Woman Needs Love" over today's dreck anytime...
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Sly fan (67.115.74.237) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 01:50 pm:

I still listen to Raydio..great songs. Ray is still the man!!

By Michael/Cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 01:50 pm:

KevGo

Hear Hear!!!! I am in absolute agreement. I love "A Woman Nees Love."

By Common (209.2.55.171) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 02:04 pm:

Hello everyone,

I remember when Ray was huge back in the early to mid eighties. To be honest, I thought Ray was going to go the Rock route after he did "The Other Woman", which he was more than capable of doing. I wonder why he opted to go the pop route instead & do "Ghostbusters"? BTW, "Jack & Jill" is one of my favorite Raydio recordings as well.

Peace!

By Sly fan (67.115.74.237) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 02:09 pm:

Common,

I totally agree..keep in mind the 80's did a number on everybody..Think about it..

By Common (209.2.55.172) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 03:09 pm:

Sly fan,

You're right! Lionel Richie was another who lost his way on the pop shlop route. Sad! I hope Ray will be able to bounce back!

By Scratcher (65.132.78.126) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 04:54 pm:

Raydio was pure bubblegum. But different strokes for different folks. I bet if you asked Ray about songs like "You Can't Change That" and "Jack and Jill" he'll probably tell you he can't stand to listen to them now and is embarrased by them.

He's a noted session guitarist but to talk about his recordings as a solo artist and with Raydio on a soul site is a bigger stretch than the White Stripes' thread.

Anybody knows what Ray's brother, the jazz sax player, is doing? He never became famous but he didn't sell out either.

By Sly fan (67.119.52.31) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 05:20 pm:

Common: POP was killer of everybody from Soul(Lionel Ritchie)to Rock (Chicago, Journey)..C'mon "With The Other Woman" compared to "Its Your Nite" or "Jack and Jill" no contest...Lets not even talk about the material he wrote for other artists: "See, The Trouble With Me" by Barry White, "Ready or Not" by Herbie Hancock, pure genius... Im very confident Ray will come back in a major way..

As far as the whole POP thing, it wasnt so much that they went POP because you want music to reach everyone but they totally altered their sound. Prince and Micheal Jackson are very unique because POP crossed over to them and thats how it should be, make changes dont change up...

Scratcher:You are right, different strokes...but I dont think he would call those songs bubblegum. Those were the songs that put him on the map.

Yeah, I will pass on The Great Stripes too. Besides, The Strokes are way better..

By stephanie (64.63.221.59) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 05:40 pm:

Hey Ray Parker did stuff for New Edition and for those who dont like his bubble gum listen to For Those who Like to Groove. Dont let his hits fool you this man is capable of writing and playing some good soul music.
Stephanie

By Sly fan (67.119.52.31) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 05:44 pm:

Thats right Steph!! I forgot!! I still love "Mr Telephone Man", good call!!

By dvdmike (12.84.120.232) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 08:54 pm:

Ray produced a high school friend of mine, Randy Hall for Arista back in 1984. They cut the tracks at Universal Recording here in Chicago and the vocals at Ray's home studio in North Hollywood. I remember the musicians were Randy on guitar and vocals, Bobby Irving on keyboards, Felton Crews on bass, Vince Wilburn on drums and I believe Ray might have been on guitar as well. The main single off the album titled "I Belong To You" was "I've Been Watching You (Jamie's Girl") peaked at #18 on Billboard's R&B chart. There was even a video starring Randy and Ray. Also, the next time you see "Uptown Saturday Night" with Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby, check out the picnic scene, Ray Parker, Jr. is the guitarist at the picnic.

By Common (209.2.55.172) on Wednesday, April 09, 2003 - 09:09 am:

Hello everyone,

Slyfan: That's the thing. Most black artists of the day got inspired by Michael's "Thriller" & thought the pop field was open to them as well. As you stated, however, while Michael & Prince's music were natural progressions of their previous work, R&B artists simply change their style to fit the current sound of the day, to their detriment. The sad part is that people like Lionel Richie, Stephanie Mills, etc. despite of their immense talents as singers/songwriters, suffered from the fallout & are now struggling to reclaim back their careers.

dvdmike: I remember Randy Hall but not the songs. I remembered him because he reminded me of one of the Debarges, who were huge at the time. Gotta look through some of my old teen mags for his pic.

Peace!

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, April 09, 2003 - 01:42 pm:

Common & company:
Also keep in mind that MTV had quickly become a powerful medium in the 1980s yet prior to Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" they wouldn't play R&B music videos. Unfortunately, many Top 40/CHR stations (Contemporary Hit Radio) followed MTV's trail, which is why many of our favorite R&B acts felt the need to add that searing rock guitar solo (Lionel Richie's "Running With The Night") in the middle of their records or make their sound so "poppy" (DeBarge's "Rhythm Of The Night" & El's solo hit "Who's Johnny")just to get on pop music radio as well as MTV.

Kevin Goins - KevGo
(PS - And don't forget the new-wave influenced wardrobe that was worn in these videos!)

By Rich (162.33.235.120) on Friday, April 11, 2003 - 08:53 am:

If my eyes haven't deceived me it looks like Ray is to be touring with the Crusaders this summer. The Crusaders featuring Joe Sample, Stix, Wilton, Ray Parker Jr & Randy Crawford are due to stop at the Keswick Theatre in Philly this June. The Keswick is the same place that'll be hosting the Funk Brothers tomorrow night (4/12).

By STUBASS (152.163.188.68) on Friday, April 11, 2003 - 12:21 pm:

HEY RICH: THAT TOO WOULD BE A GREAT SHOW TO SEE!!!...MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT RAY WORKED EXTENSIVELY WITH GUYS LIKE JOE SAMPLE DURING HIS STUDIO PLAYING DAYS...AND THOSE RELATIONSHIPS CARRIED OVER!!!...ALSO...RANDY CRAWFORD...GREAT SET OF CHOPS...ALTHOUGH I HAVENT HEARD MUCH FROM HER IN RECENT YEARS!!!...STU

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Friday, April 11, 2003 - 12:30 pm:

Now, I will make it a point to see the Crusaders show this summer!!!

By 1wicked (24.126.64.120) on Friday, April 11, 2003 - 01:50 pm:

The new Crusaders CD...with Sample, Felder, and Hooper..produced by Stewart Levine and mixed by Rik Pekkonen (just like the old days) is their best work in years. I guess the guys have put their differences aside and reunited after a 20 year hiatus to make good music. Wayne "Big Daddy" Henderson didn't re-up...but the 'bone man they're using is strong in his own right.

By Aba21 (208.191.122.205) on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 05:31 pm:

Old Pro, To Places At the Same Time, A Woman Needs Love, I'm Still Can't Get
Over Loving You, Going Through School and Love.....are you kidding me? I'm going home and burn me a Ray Parker cd today!

By RJ Spangler (152.163.188.68) on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - 02:13 am:

I was told Ray played guitar with Stevie Wonder here in Detroit for our 'Detroit 300' celebration. I also heard he had Greg Phillingaines (spelling?) and Ricky Lawson with him. Anyone know anything about this? I had to leave before Stevie went on. -RJ

By Common (209.2.55.168) on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - 08:39 am:

Hello everyone,

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Ray Parker jr. produce Cheryl Lynn? I recall she had a huge hit in '81 with the song "Shake It Up Tonight". I remember roller skating to this song as well as Taana Gardner's "Heartbeat". Boy, those were fun times! :o)

Peace!

By STUBASS (152.163.188.68) on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - 09:04 am:

HEY COMMON: YES...RAY PARKER PRODUCED SOME TRACKS ON CHERLY LYNNS DEBUT ALBUM IN 1978...AND REUNITED WITH HER IN 1982 TO PRODUCE ANOTHER ALBUM!!!...ALSO...LUTHER VANDROSS PRODUCED SOME MATERIAL FOR HER IN THE IN BETWEEN YEARS!!!...COINCIDENTIALLY...HER MARQUEE SONG..."GOT TO BE REAL" WAS...AS LEGEND HAS IT...FIRST OFFERED TO PATTI LABELLE...WHO ALLEGEDLY TURNED IT DOWN!!!...ALSO...CHERYL MADE HER NATIONAL DEBUT ON "THE GONG SHOW" (DON'T KNOCK IT..."GENE-GENE THE DANCIN MACHINE" STARTED OUT THE SAME WAY)!!!...I STILL THINK THAT HER DISCO HIT "STARLOVE" WAS ONE OF THE FINEST PRODUCTIONS OF THE DISCO ERA!!!...STUBASS

By Common (209.2.55.168) on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - 09:35 am:

Stu: I didn't know that Ray had produced her first LP as well. Thanks!

Peace!

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - 12:04 pm:

NOT THE WHOLE THING... COMMON...BUT A COUPLE OF TRACKS!!!...STU

By Common (209.2.55.170) on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - 03:20 pm:

Stu: Gotcha! ;o)

Peace!

By Aba21 (208.191.122.205) on Friday, April 25, 2003 - 12:40 pm:

I also think Ray Parker played with Stevie way back on Talking Book or Innervisions....I'm not positive which one but I remember seeing him in some old footage playing in Stevie Wonder's band.

By dvdmike (12.84.98.46) on Friday, April 25, 2003 - 04:16 pm:

Ray played the guitar solo on "Maybe Your Baby"